The fall-out between the judiciary and the Government has deepened after the Association of Judges of Ireland issued a statement backing Mr Justice Peter Kelly.

Their response came just hours after Justice Minister Alan Shatter went on a collision course with judges, warning any suggestion of political interference in the judicial system would damage Ireland’s international reputation.

But in a no-nonsense statement on Monday night, the AJI insisted all lines of communication between the Government and the judiciary have now closed.

And in a scathing attack, the judges insisted the only reason they need a formal association was because there was no longer a mutual respect between the two.

It said: “All structures, both formal and informal, which existed for communication between these two branches of Government have ceased.”

The outburst – sparked by Mr Shatter’s response to Mr Justice Kelly’s claims the Government is interfering with the judiciary’s independence and is demolishing the system brick by brick – also took a swipe at ministers over pay cuts.

While they accepted they have to bear their fair share of austerity, the judges claimed their requests for an independent body to set levels of pay were ignored.

The AJI also fumed over new pensions legislation they said was passed without any consultation and warned it will have “major consequences” for future recruitment.

The statement added: “Those provisions extended by one third the length of time senior court judges have to serve to obtain a pension which was unlikely to amount to half the final salary.”

The association also accused the Government of enacting the Personal Insolvency Act without any notice or debate about the insolvency judges who will be initially recruited “solely from the ranks of county registrars”.

The AJI said: “Neither serving judges nor practising lawyers will be eligible to be considered for such appointments until 2014.

“These judges, unlike all others, will be subject to ministerial direction concerning sittings.”

The statement also referred to three more constitutional referenda to take place within months – and sensationally revealed judges still have not seen the wording despite the fact all three will have huge implications for the judiciary.

It said: “AJI accepts the need for a Court of Appeal but is concerned at the form of amendment to the Constitution which may be proposed.”

The judiciary also has no idea about details of the proposals concerning specialist family courts, the statement added.

It concluded: “All of these matters have implications for judicial independence.

“An independent judiciary and the perception of an independent judiciary is a vital element in a properly-functioning constitutional democracy.”

Justice Minister Alan Shatter has clashed with judgesEarlier on Monday, Mr Shatter said he did not believe Mr Justice Kelly intended to imply anything other than that all his colleagues in the country’s courts properly and independently determine cases.

He added: “I do believe it is unfortunate if constitutionally-sanctioned pay reductions that have affected the judiciary were presented as an attack on judicial independence because we had a referendum on the issue.

“The overwhelming majority of people were of the view that whilst judges undertake vitally important and onerous duties, this shouldn’t render the judiciary immune from the consequences of the State’s enormous fiscal difficulties.”

Mr Shatter said it was important to be clear there was no political interference in Irish courts and insisted the Government would never do anything to undermine the independence of the judiciary.

But Fianna Fail’s Willie O’Dea ordered the minister to get “off his high horse” and accept the stinging criticisms.

The Limerick politician blasted Mr Shatter for having an attitude that everything he did was right and everything everyone else does was wrong.

He also urged him to engage with the judiciary about their concerns rather than going on the defensive.